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The Night of 1000 Voices Celebrates Fifth Birthday

The Night of 1000 Voices, the musicals spectacular held annually at the Royal Albert Hall, celebrates its fifth anniversary next year. The 2005 gala performance, which takes place on Bank Holiday Sunday 1 May, will be hosted by ever-popular TV presenter Gloria Hunniford, who hosted the first-ever Night in 1999 and will be performed in aid of the Caron Keating Foundation, the cancer charity set up in memory of Hunniford’s late daughter.

In a press statement issued today, Hunniford commented: “We are thrilled to have such a major event supporting Caron’s Foundation. At a time of deep loss and grief, the Caron Keating Foundation has proved to be a major positive force for our family and has provided a shaft of light enabling us to move forward. We hope that the Foundation in Caron’s name will in turn help others and their families who are coping with all forms of cancer. Caron would be very proud to be associated with the stunning array of talent at the Royal Albert Hall. We thank all those involved.”

Though the international guest stars for the 2005 Night of 1000 Voices have not yet been confirmed, previous soloists who have agreed to return include Teri Bibb, Kenneth Nichols, Brad Little, Kelli James, David Michael Johnson, Yngve Gasoy-Romdal and Patricia Nessy.

The programme of songs will include “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina”, “Tonight”, “You’ll Never Walk Alone”, “Make Our Garden Grow”, “Superstar”, “Anthem”, “Memory”, “The Circle of Life” and “Can You Feel the Love Tonight?” from the musicals Evita, West Side Story, Carousel, Candide, Jesus Christ Superstar, Chess, Cats and The Lion King.

The Night of 1000 Voices is directed by Hugh Wooldridge, with David Firman conducting the City of London Philharmonic orchestra. Performers will be accompanied by children from the Sylvia Young Theatre School and the Sing Live massed choir from around the British Isles.

Previous years’ celebrations have been themed around director Trevor Nunn, lyricist Tim Rice, composer Stephen Sondheim and musicals through the millennium. Additional charities benefiting from the 2005 gala performance will be the Alan Jay Lerner Fund for Cancer Research at the Royal Marsden Hospital.

- by Terri Paddock

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